Freedom of Movement

Freedom of Movement revisits Dancemakers’ 1976 tour of prisons across Southwestern Ontario. Featuring narration and reflection by Andraya Ciel Smith, the audio story, interactive animation, and accompanying video artwork document strategies for community-engaged art using expression as a form of resistance. While recognizing possibilities for exchange and care, this work highlights the absurdity of the carceral state and the limitations of working within the confines of oppressive systems.

Video art and audio story by Tamara Jones
Commissioned by Dancemakers
Narration by Andraya Ciel Smith

Diary of a Prison Tour written by Andraya Ceil Smith
Published by Dance In Canada Magazine Issue #8 Spring 1976.

Featuring Remembered Music (1984)
Choreographed by Carol Anderson
Dancers: Susan McKenzie and Conrad Alexanderoweicz
Costumes: Julia Tribe
Original score by Henry Kucharzyk for Walking The Line (1984)

Material courtesy of Dance Collection Danse

In 2024, Dancemakers turned 50 years old.

This was a time of crucial and critical looking back for Dancemakers. As a way to commemorate this anniversary, we worked with Artist Researchers to read “against the grain” of our archive, which is housed at Dance Collection Danse (DCD) located at 2 Carlton St Unit 1303 in Tkaranto.

Each artist researcher was given a one-week (paid) Writing Residency at Dance Collection Danse (or remotely using DCD’s digital archives) with the intention to produce content that will permanently live on Dancemakers’ website.